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I couldn’t meet Irina’s confused gaze. She had saved me from the darkness, and yet I had repaid her kindness with betrayal.

The voices from the background made my head spin.

I might’ve escaped the stagnant hell I was in, but it seemed I’d dragged the devils out with me. Could I even call this an escape? Maybe I had some sort of cursed ability that turned my surroundings into a living hell.

This was truly sad. All I said was that I was going to greet an acquaintance, but the department directors, including the minister, were all trailing behind me before I knew it. The look on their faces was clearly saying, ‘We had nothing better to do, so why not?’

“So, young lady, how old are you this year?”

The question came from the Director of Audit, whose every word carried the weight of years of experience. Then, I noticed Count Flanbell squirming uncomfortably.

The Audit Director was the oldest of the Ministry of Finance’s senior officials, a veteran who had returned after retiring—a living legend. For someone like Count Flanbell, one of the giants in the business world, this man must’ve seemed quite intimidating. After all, who would dare to take the person who oversaw the empire’s budget lightly?

Either way, Irina answered the elder’s question with a trembling voice.

“I-I’m eighteen now…”

“So young! This thief stole a precious lady away.”

“If the Executive Manager is a thief, then who will inspect him?”

The Statistics Director chimed in, adding fuel to the fire of the elder’s joke.

These people—just moments ago, they were sending curses with smiling faces, but now their faces were filled with genuine laughter. I guess gossiping about someone’s love life never gets old, no matter how old you get.

“Come on, there’s only a four-year difference between us; how does that make me a thief?”

I tried to protest, if only to protect my honor. If the age difference was over ten years, sure, but calling me a thief for just four years? Wasn’t that going too far?

“That’s definitely a thief when someone in their twenties snatches someone in their teens.”

However, my small rebellion was swiftly crushed by the Minister’s quiet observation.

Damn these people.

***The directors eventually moved on as if nothing had happened after teasing me for a while. Thankfully, they were just playful but not oblivious. Besides, someone without awareness wouldn’t have climbed to such a position in the first place.

“My apologies, Count. I’m sorry for the commotion.”

I quickly turned to apologize to Count Flanbell once the directors had moved far enough away. Those heavyweights made it seem as if I had been ganging up on him. Having the Finance Ministry’s senior officials collectively pressure a noble, especially a merchant, could easily spell disaster.

This was a nightmare. I was supposed to make a good impression, and yet everything’s been a mess from the start. Well, to be fair, things went awry as soon as the 3rd Manager got involved.

“It’s quite alright. In fact, seeing that side of them was amusing.”

The Count smiled as he spoke, but I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely okay or just pretending because complaining would do him no good.

“Please feel free to speak openly, sir. After all, what son-in-law would expect formality from his father-in-law?”

I decided to be straightforward. The Count’s continued politeness toward me only showed that there was still a wall between us.

I couldn’t blame him—thanks to the 3rd Manager’s wild antics, there was bound to be some distance. But it’d be a problem if this wall stays up for life. Irina would be heartbroken if her husband and father were distant. And sure, a son-in-law might be considered a guest for a hundred years, but this felt more like being an unwelcome one.

The Count’s eyes widened slightly at my words. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so direct and humble in such a public setting.

“You’re right. Perhaps it’s my age, but I find it hard to adjust to new things. However, I’ll make an effort to speak more comfortably by the time the wedding comes around.”

“I truly appreciate it.”

I had never heard of a merchant being slow to adapt, but I couldn’t rush the Count if he needed time.

Moreover, he had already set the wedding as the final deadline, so at least I knew he wasn’t against my relationship with Irina. For that, I was thankful.

“I should also apologize to the Countess. These folks can be a bit mischievous, and they tend to catch people off guard during their first conversation.”

I bowed my head to the Count’s wife as well. The Count, at least, had likely interacted with these directors in a professional capacity, and Irina could lean on me. But the Countess? She didn’t have that luxury.

How often did a lady of a noble house need to face high-ranking officials? The interest those officials showed in her beloved daughter must have been quite overwhelming. In fact, she was probably the most affected person here.

While the Count managed to maintain a calm exterior, his wife still seemed visibly shaken, her pupils trembling slightly.

“Please don’t worry about it. As you said, they’re just a bit playful.”

I was relieved that she said she was fine. That was truly a relief…

Damn them.

I glanced over at the directors who were now huddled back in the corner, engaged in some meaningless conversation.

Couldn’t they be a bit more aware of the weight their positions held? There were plenty of people whose lives could be turned upside down by just a word from one of them.

***It felt like being sucked into a storm when the Executive Manager arrived with the other Ministry of Finance officials. Fortunately, they approached not as civil servants but as the Executive Manager’s acquaintances, so no harm was done.

As casual guests, the officials showed an almost grandfatherly interest in Irina, like elderly villagers offering treats to a child. With me, they exchanged nothing more than simple greetings.

I suppose I should be satisfied with just seeing their faces.

If that was the case, then it wasn’t a bad meeting. In the end, there was no harm done, so I’d call it a decent encounter. It was always a good idea to foster relationships with the higher-ups in the Finance Ministry, and I met them all at once today. If I had to decide whether this was a good or bad omen, then it was definitely a good one.

Moreover, the Executive Manager apologized multiple times for the unexpected meeting, so there was no point in dwelling on it. In fact, I should be thankful for the opportunity to meet these officials.

Yes. I should be grateful, but…

A half-ring.

I couldn’t help but stare at the Executive Manager as he spoke with my wife. More specifically, at the ring on his finger.

I’d already seen and heard about it from Irina, but seeing him actually wear a half-ring still caught me off guard. It was such an unconventional concept that I almost laughed.

…Actually, this is pretty good.

At the same time, my merchant instincts were screaming. The Executive Manager, along with his partner, was wearing this ring—something no one had ever seen or imagined before. The meaning behind it was also appealing. Two halves coming together as one—that was undeniably romantic.

This would sell. It was bound to sell. It would start a trend even if only the Executive Manager wore it, but now it wasn’t just him—the Iron-blooded Duke’s daughter and even the Mage Duchess were wearing these rings. And with the New Year’s Ball, where all the nobles gathered, right around the corner? It would be stranger if this didn’t become a trend.

I happened to have quite a few craftsmen under contract with our family. I should contact them after today’s events.

***I left the room with the subtle gaze of Count Flanbell lingering behind me. His eyes had been locked on the ring for a while now. It must be bothering him that his precious daughter was just one of six wives.

I’m the guilty one here, I know…

“A father’s wish is always for his daughter to be the sole recipient of love.”

“I know, so please shut up.”

Unfortunately, the Minister knew exactly how I felt and couldn’t resist taking a jab at me as if it was an action as natural as breathing.

As if I didn’t already know. No matter how normal polygamy was in this society, feelings were a separate matter. It was a parent’s instinct that neither laws nor customs could suppress. It was only natural for them to want the best for their child.

“But didn’t it go smoother than expected? If it were me, I wouldn’t have allowed it even if I were six feet under.”

Damn it.

The Minister kept hammering me with undeniable truths even though I practically begged him to stop.

To be honest, I’d do the same if I were in Count Flanbell’s shoes. Even though it was a mistake and I already apologized, I was still the bastard who wrecked his family and stole his precious daughter. That was the kind of position that would keep anyone up at night.

I really hope my future daughter doesn’t end up with someone like me…

“Minister, maybe we shouldn’t be so harsh. It seems the Count has let go of any hard feelings, so why should we, as outsiders, interfere any further?”

“You’re right. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

The Minister’s harsh truths left me speechless, but the Audit Director stepped in to mediate.

The Audit Director managed to defuse the situation with a hearty laugh, and the Minister quickly backed off. It made sense; while the Minister could challenge others, he couldn’t treat the Audit Director lightly. After all, it was the Minister who had to beg the Audit Director to come out of retirement and return to the Finance Ministry.

…The more I think about it, the more dreadful it seems. To be dragged back into work after finally retiring—there was nothing worse for a civil servant.

No wonder he enjoys making the most of things.

I found myself looking at the Audit Director with a pitying gaze without realizing it. Earlier, it was the Audit Director who incited the other officials to join him in his little scheme when we approached Irina.

I was annoyed at the time, but thinking of it now as his way of squeezing some enjoyment out of life almost made me feel like tearing up.

I better make sure my retirement doesn’t end up like that.

Maybe I should leave the empire altogether once I retired to avoid being dragged back into work.

***The once-quiet halls of the palace were gradually becoming busier. But despite the growing crowd, the area around us remained strangely silent.

Having an official title really did have its perks. It might seem like we were discussing important policies to outsiders when in reality, the people I was with were just a bunch of retirees lamenting the days until they could officially call it quits. After all, none of us wanted to talk about work during our off-hours.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

I was listening absentmindedly to the other directors complain about how their children weren’t interested in inheriting their titles when the Minister tapped me on the shoulder.

“Congratulations. Looks like you won’t have to search anymore.”

His sudden remark made me instinctively frown. What was he talking about?

Seeing my confusion, the Minister pointed somewhere, indicating that I should see for myself—

Oh.

I froze as soon as I followed his finger.

There, walking alongside the Iron-blooded Duke, was a blond man. Just a few steps behind them was a woman with pink hair, holding Louise’s hand.

…What?

I was utterly confused. It was clearly the Naird family given the circumstances, but why were they arriving with the Valentis?

Could it be that Marghetta and Louise were that close and decided to come together? But then, why did the Yorun family come separately? Did they just happen to meet up outside?

“Now, we just need Marquis Iones to arrive.”

The Minister’s comment was the final nail in the coffin, and I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle.